As you stand behind the bar and finish up your last check of the evening, you can’t help but gossip with your coworkers about how impatient table two was for asking where their entrées were 50 times. As a waiter or waitress, every night is exciting with a new crowd of people, new faces and new personalities. Yet you can’t help but notice that although you may be waiting on different people every evening, they all seem so similar. Here is a list I made to narrow down the six types of people every server has encountered:
1. The regulars.
Nothing is better than seeing your favorite regular on a super busy day. This is the type of person that walks in the door gives you a warm hello and sits at their favorite table with the biggest smile on their face. As soon as they sit, you get them their usual drink and bring it over without them asking. Even though you most likely saw each other two days ago you still ask about their significant other and make the time to talk to them a little more than other guests.
2. The person that wants you to decide for them.
One of the hardest and most frequent questionsI have ever been asked as a waitress is "So if you had to choose between the pulled pork or the burger which would you choose?" As a waitress and a normal human being, I can't help but say both. It's super hard when this type of person asks you to choose for them because you don't want to suggest something that you personally like but they may end up hating. Ultimately, you cannot make the decision for them but you can definitely recommend your favorite dish and hope for the best.
3. The talkers.
As a waitress, it is your job to communicate with the customers and make sure that they have everything they need to make their dining experience great, even if that means telling them a little bit about yourself. However, we've all had that one person who wants to talk to you about how their mothers best friends cousin Anthony who lived in the city, moved to the area, came into the restaurant and loved the soup. Although the conversation can be summed up in one short sentence, it goes on for about five minutes, until you have to awkwardly end the conversation and run away.
4. The person that's in a rush.
Although fast food has become very popular, most restaurants do
not make their dishes in advance, instead they prepare it when you order. The person
who is in a rush sometimes does not know or understand this concept. If you are
in a rush, please tell us. We understand that you’re on your lunch break and
need to get back into the office, or need to make it in time for your 6 p.m. movie, but we are not mind readers. We can easily tell the kitchen that you need to be out quick, but we can't put a rush on things if you don't tell us in the first place.
5. The people you just can't satisfy.
As soon as this person walks in the door and rolls their eyes at the table they're seated at, you already know you're in for a treat. This is the type of person who orders a steak medium rare and sends it back to the kitchen because it was "pink." After you offer them a coffee on the house because of the misunderstanding they roll their eyes and turn around without hesitation. Although you did try your hardest to fix the problem, you need to realize that you can't please everyone, especially in the restaurant business.
6. The person who appreciates what you do.
These are the people that see you running around getting drinks, checking tables, and running food from the kitchen. They comment on how well you handle it all and are extremely patient. It’s always nice and refreshing having someone you hardly know observe how well you’re doing your job. They understand why it’s taking 20 minutes for their appetizers to come out and don’t mind when you forget to get them that glass of water a few minutes ago. They leave you a nice tip and thank you for the excellent service. These type of people are what make your time as a waiter or waitress worth while.
